Southwest Checked Bag Fee, Policy: What to Know as Prices Change Tomorrow
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Southwest Airlines has updated its checked bag policy, and passengers will start paying extra tomorrow.
Why It Matters
Southwest has long allowed passengers to bring a guaranteed free checked bag, but that is changing tomorrow as the airline adopts a new policy.
Airlines have faced headwinds in recent years due to larger economic uncertainty. Tariffs, shifting demand and higher jet fuel prices have all forced airlines to make changes to their business models, potentially leading to higher prices for consumers.
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 taxis at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on May 16, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 taxis at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on May 16, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.What To Know
Southwest Checked Bag Fee
Beginning Wednesday, Southwest passengers will no longer get two guaranteed free checked bags when purchasing a flight.
That prior rule is disappearing as the airline starts charging fees for checked bags for the first time ever.
The first checked bag will cost $35, while the second checked bag will incur a $45 charge for most tickets. Higher costs will apply to overweight and oversized bags.
Southwest Baggage Policy
Southwest opted to switch its baggage policy as it makes larger business changes.
The airline will also no longer allow passengers to self-select their own seats. There will also be added legroom for flyers.
How to Still Get Free Bags on Southwest
Customers may be able to skirt around the new baggage fee if they qualify for specific perks or rewards under Southwest.
That includes Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling on Business Select or Choice Extra fares. This will allow you to still get your two free checked bags.
Rapid Rewards A-List Members and Rapid Rewards credit card holders also get one free checked bag.
What People Are Saying
A Southwest spokesperson told Newsweek: "Southwest will be charging $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second checked bag (weight and size limits apply) for flights booked or voluntarily changed on or after May 28."
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "There's a running joke: if you want to become a millionaire, have a billionaire invest in an airline. I say that tongue in cheek, but it reflects a deeper truth. This industry is going to continue consolidating. Airlines will cut routes, cut costs, and push profitability as far as they can."
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "For many longtime Southwest flyers, the changes coming this week seem unfathomable. The airline has for decades prided itself being fee-free when it came to bags as many of its rivals started charging for them years ago... The online chatter was highly negative when the changes were first announced, with many claiming they would abandon Southwest. At the same point, talk doesn't always equate to business. It will be interesting to see if the initial angered feedback results in fewer profits moving forward."
What Happens Next
In February, Southwest Airlines said it would be laying off 1,750 employees for the first time in 50 years.
Thompson said more layoffs and higher prices are likely ahead for the airline industry.
"Expect activist investors to push changes the original founders never would've touched. We're already down to a few major carriers and if this trend holds competition will shrink as passengers end up paying more for less," Thompson said.
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